PHOTOS: 'Murdering Minister' Case

Waco Murder

Kari Baker in her cheerleading uniform as a freshman in high school circa 1989. "She was always the bubbly little blond," said her mother Linda Dulin. "Cheerleader, mascot in high school, loved athletics, loved life...people were drawn to Kari, always."

Courtesy Linda Dulin

Waco Murder

Kari Baker in her cheerleading uniform as a freshman in high school circa 1989. "She was always the bubbly little blond," said her mother Linda Dulin. "Cheerleader, mascot in high school, loved athletics, loved life...people were drawn to Kari, always."

Courtesy Linda Dulin

Waco Murder

Matt Baker in his school picture at 17 years old.

Courtesy Barbara Baker

Waco Murder

Kari and Matt Baker met during their college years, and married in 1993 after just three months of dating. "It was a whirlwind romance," said Linda Dulin.

Courtesy Barbara Baker

Waco Murder

Kari Baker on her wedding day to Matt Baker, 1993. Family and friends said they appeared to be the perfect couple from day one.

Courtesy Linda Dulin

Waco Murder

A monumental tragedy struck the young couple's life: the loss of their second daughter, Kassidy, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor at 1 year old and died four months later. Kari was overwhelmed with grief over Kassidy's death. "She had a hole in her heart," Kari's mom, Linda Dulin told ABC News. Here, Kari kisses Kassidy's head.

Courtesy Barbara Baker

Waco Murder

After Kassidy's death, Kari had another daughter, Grace. Matt and Kari Baker are pictured with their other two daughters, Kensi and Grace in 2001. Matt Baker, a Baptist preacher, was at the pulpit every Sunday, preaching to a doting congregation.

Courtesy Barbara Baker

Waco Murder

Kari with her beloved daughters, Kensi and Grace. Kari had a full life, not only as a mother and wife, but as an elementary school teacher.

Courtesy Barbara Baker

Waco Murder

On April 7, 2006, Kari Baker was found dead in the bedroom of her suburban Texas home. Her husband called 911 and told police he found her with a bottle of Ambien on the night stand, as well as this typed, unsigned suicide note, where she professed love for her children, her parents and her husband and apologized for taking her own life.

McLennan County District Attorney's office

Waco Murder

Kari Baker's relatives refused to believe that she committed suicide. Together they formed the "Charlie's Angels of Waco" -- a group dedicated to finding the truth about Kari's death, even after the Hewitt Police ruled it a suicide. Nancy Lanham told "20/20": "There's no way Kari would have done this. We knew she did not take her own life." From left to right: Jennifer Biles (Kari's aunt), Kay Bailey (Kari's aunt), Linda Dulin (Kari's Mom), and Nancy Lanham (Kari's aunt).

Courtesy Linda Dulin

Waco Murder

Police would later learn that Vanessa Bulls, a recently divorced single mom and church member, was having an affair with Matt Baker while Kari was still alive. Kari's relatives pointed to Matt's double life as a motive for murdering Kari.

Courtesy McLennan County District Attorney's Office

Waco Murder

Vanessa Bulls denied an affair with Matt Baker to investigators until she was subpoenaed to testify in front of a grand jury. She finally confessed to an affair with the preacher and said she knew of his plans to kill his wife. Here, Bulls is pictured with Matt and Kari's daughter Kensi at a birthday party just two weeks after Kari's death.

Courtesy McLennan County District Attorney's office

Waco Murder

The murder case went to trial in January of 2010, almost four years after Kari's death. Matt Baker was convicted of Kari's murder and sentenced to 65 years in prison. After the verdict, Baker said in court, "I believe the jury made a mistake in this."